A new report from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to the state legislature is focusing on the harmful effects of social media and Artificial Intelligence on Minnesota's youth.
Ellison is calling for a ban on things like constant notifications, and updates to privacy for the some of the most vulnerable users online, children.
House Representative Zack Stephenson (DFL- Coon Rapids), who works to regulate the reach of social media companies, says many companies have yet to get on board with any changes.
"Meta has come to talk to us at the legislature, but I don't think the tech companies have brought solutions to the table yet, and they've largely opposed the modest things we've been trying to do so far at the legislature," explained Stephenson. "That's why we really needed to get the Attorney General to take a close look at the problem ahead of the legislative session."
The legislature commissioned the report last year in large part to guide policy-making decisions.
Stephenson says the report will hopefully help halt predatory practices by companies like Meta which owns Facebook and Instagram.
"A lot of times social media companies are conducting experiments and if they're conducting experiments on us or on our kids through their products, we should know about that," says Stephenson. "We should know what they're up to so that we can react appropriately as parents and frankly, just as Minnesotans."
Ellison is inviting Minnesota families to share their stories of how social media had negatively affected their children's lives by clicking here.
The access kids now have to explicit online content through social media is another concern addressed in the report.
According to a US study by Common Sense Media:
12 is the average age of pornography exposure online
15% reported seeing pornography at age 10 or younger
58% of youth said they came across pornography online by accident
>50% respondents said they viewed violent porn
“Emerging technologies like social media are changing how kids in Minnesota grow up, often in profoundly negative ways,” said Attorney General Ellison. “As things stand, technology companies with little oversight and a habit of putting profits over people have nearly unfettered access to our kids via their computers and smart phones. I have heard countless stories from anguished parents and teenagers about the harm this is causing across our state. This unacceptable status quo must change if we want young people in Minnesota to grow up with the dignity, safety, and respect every one of them deserves."
You can see more of the report on the Attorney General's website here.